Richard S. John LL.B. (Southampton)

Richard was born and brought up in Aberystwyth, attending Ardwyn Grammar School and Penglais Comprehensive School where he was head boy in his final year. In 1981, he graduated in law at Southampton University and after passing his solicitors’ exams, undertook articles in Chatham, Kent.

Richard became a solicitor in June 1985 and returned to Aberystwyth as an associate solicitor with W A Bowen & Griffiths. He remained with that firm after its amalgamation with Morris Bates & Godwin but then joined Alun Thomas in 1987. They became partners in 1989.

Richard’s legal background is in litigation. He has represented clients in criminal and civil trials, in family cases and at inquests. He was a member of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers and was a Crown Prosecution Service panel solicitor. Richard was appointed a deputy district judge (civil) in 2019 and authorised to hear family cases in 2021.

In recent years, Richard has undertaken complex residential and commercial conveyancing for individuals and companies. He has been involved in the Aberystwyth harbour redevelopment scheme, the town centre Tesco development and most of the recent housing developments in the area.

Richard has been a governor of several schools in the locality including chair of governors at Penglais Comprehensive School. He was a member of Aberystwyth University’s Council for 6 years and is currently a trustee for Hospice at Home.

Richard’s main interests are keeping fit, playing football and music. He has appeared on television and radio discussing legal matters and has been the director of music for a number of television and radio broadcasts.